Look down! Ballard’s street tiles are in danger

If you’re walking through Ballard and see crisp, blue and white tiles with mysterious street names at your feet, you’re walking through history.

This history reveals the original street names of Ballard before Seattle annexed the neighborhood in 1907. It’s a history the residents of Ballard are trying to preserve, but new development in the community threatens the existence of the vibrant mosaics.

Artist Benson Shaw, who worked on the sidewalk project in the 1990s, recently took me on a tour of the installations along Market Street and the surrounding area. He pointed out tiles that he helped create in the 90s as well as older tiles his project was modeled on.

Here’s what we saw, and how construction is affecting both sets of mosaics.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Artist Benson Shaw walks me through a project he helped create in the 1990s to recreate a set of older street name sidewalk mosaics already existing in Ballard. The tiles serve as a colorful reminder of when Ballard was a separate city from Seattle before 1907. less

Artist Benson Shaw walks me through a project he helped create in the 1990s to recreate a set of older street name sidewalk mosaics already existing in Ballard. The tiles serve as a colorful reminder of when ... more

Photo: Rachel Reed

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The Central Ballard Community Council supported the project with a grant from the City of Seattle's Neighborhood Matching Fund. Shaw and volunteers from the community imitated older original street name tiles that were already in place, like this one. less

The Central Ballard Community Council supported the project with a grant from the City of Seattle's Neighborhood Matching Fund. Shaw and volunteers from the community imitated older original street name tiles ... more

Photo: Rachel Reed

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New development in Ballard compromises some of the tiles as developers don't always leave the tiles intact. Here, old and new sidewalks collide where a tile used to be.

New development in Ballard compromises some of the tiles as developers don't always leave the tiles intact. Here, old and new sidewalks collide where a tile used to be.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Shaw points out that the creators of the original tiles had an eccentric side. Most of the tiles are read correctly as you approach the roadway, but this one is upside-down.

Shaw points out that the creators of the original tiles had an eccentric side. Most of the tiles are read correctly as you approach the roadway, but this one is upside-down.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Shaw stands next to a tile that is correctly facing the roadway.

Shaw stands next to a tile that is correctly facing the roadway.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Adding to the quirk of the original installers, the letter "S" in this tile is backwards.
"There's a lot of speculation on why," Shaw says, "the installers were drunk, illiterate, or working on their knees on the other side and thought that it ought to be switched when it shouldn't be... it's all a speculation." less

Adding to the quirk of the original installers, the letter "S" in this tile is backwards.
"There's a lot of speculation on why," Shaw says, "the installers were drunk, illiterate, or working on their knees ... more

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Many of the original tiles are falling apart. Shaw says the Historical Society is thinking of repairing and preserving what's left, but adds that it depends on people's will and what the city wants.

Many of the original tiles are falling apart. Shaw says the Historical Society is thinking of repairing and preserving what's left, but adds that it depends on people's will and what the city wants.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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The tiles often expand over joints in the concrete and break.

The tiles often expand over joints in the concrete and break.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Some developers are sympathetic to the project. Here, the property was redeveloped and the contractor cut the block around the mosaic out, inserting it back in when pouring the new sidewalks.

Some developers are sympathetic to the project. Here, the property was redeveloped and the contractor cut the block around the mosaic out, inserting it back in when pouring the new sidewalks.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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There was discussion on whether to use the old "Broadway St" name of the roadway or current name "Market St" because of fear of confusion. However, the mosaics are mainly for pedestrians who can afford to be a little confused.
"We decided it wasn't a big deal," Shaw says, "and it's a better statement to stay with the old names." less

There was discussion on whether to use the old "Broadway St" name of the roadway or current name "Market St" because of fear of confusion. However, the mosaics are mainly for pedestrians who can afford to be a ... more

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Shaw got into public art through his experience with construction and his insatiable art habit. His work can be seen in Edmonds, Olympia, Cheney, and other parts of Washington State.

Shaw got into public art through his experience with construction and his insatiable art habit. His work can be seen in Edmonds, Olympia, Cheney, and other parts of Washington State.

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Public art is important to Shaw because it makes our built environment better - it shows that the community cares.
"Then there's also an intellectual component," Shaw says, "the artwork usually references something or there's a little mystery in the stories of the artwork and it's fun to think about those." less

Public art is important to Shaw because it makes our built environment better - it shows that the community cares.
"Then there's also an intellectual component," Shaw says, "the artwork usually references ... more

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Shaw would love to work on a project from our own time, but he's not sure what yet. He loves Ballard because everything is within walking distance.
"I grew up in the suburbs and they're great... but you have to drive if you want to do anything. It's hard to reach supplies."
Spoken like a true artist. less

Shaw would love to work on a project from our own time, but he's not sure what yet. He loves Ballard because everything is within walking distance.
"I grew up in the suburbs and they're great... but you ... more

Photo: Rachel Reed

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Look down! Ballard's street tiles are in danger

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Shaw said that in the 1980s, Seattle responded to the state’s request for city planning by fueling the Department of Neighborhoods to work bottom-up in pockets where they wanted more population. The plan included more apartment buildings, parks and easier access to funding for resident-led projects.

With funding from the Neighborhood Matching Fund, Shaw and volunteers completed 22 new tiles at 11 intersections.

“I guess the real point,” Shaw says of the tiles, “is it does look nicer but it also puts that frame of mind, when you see something from the past, it kind of reminds you that you’re the future of that past. It’s optimistic.”